Parliament Urges Caution on Earned Settlement as Government Response Deadline Arrives
10 May 2026
The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee published its verdict on the government's earned settlement plans on 13 March 2026. The government has until 13 May to give its formal response, which is now just three days away.
The committee scrutinised the proposals in detail and found many elements "unclear, under-developed and potentially disruptive." It said the Home Office was not ready to implement changes of this scale in April 2026. That is why the Home Secretary later confirmed that changes would come "later this year," rather than in spring as originally planned.
What the committee recommended
The committee made several specific recommendations that could change how the plans are eventually implemented.
On children: children who grow up in the UK should get settled status by age 18, without having to meet any earned settlement requirements. The committee said it would be wrong to ask children who have spent most of their life here to prove they have "earned" the right to stay.
On family visa holders: the committee warned that nobody should face a 30-year route to settlement. It recommended that income thresholds for dependent partners should be assessed at household level, not per person. It also called for the family visa to be extended from 2.5 years to 5 years, with lower fees.
On Health and Care Workers: workers on the proposed 15-year route face a serious risk of exploitation due to the power their sponsor employer holds over them. The committee called for more flexible visa arrangements and a full impact assessment before any 15-year route is introduced.
On timing: the committee said it is "more important to get changes right than to implement them quickly." It asked the government to give a clear and realistic timeline before any rules change.
What this means for you
As of today, no earned settlement rules are in force. The five-year qualifying period still applies to all routes, including BNO, Skilled Worker, and Family visas.
The government's response, expected on or before 13 May, may confirm a timeline for changes, modify specific proposals, or announce further consultation. Watch the GOV.UK publications page for the formal response.
If you are on a BNO visa, the current proposals protect your five-year route to settlement. BNO holders are explicitly excluded from the 10-year baseline that applies to most work routes.
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